France, UK summon Israel envoys in protest

PARIS (AP) — The French and British governments have summoned the Israeli ambassadors to protest the decision to approve 3,000 new homes on Israeli-occupied territory.

The Israeli envoy to Paris was called to a meeting late Monday morning, according to a statement from the French foreign ministry spokesman, Philippe Lalliot.

France, which was the first country to announce its support for the Palestinian effort to win U.N. recognition for their state, also sent a letter to the Israeli government, calling the decision "a considerable obstacle to the two-state solution."

Britain, which abstained in the U.N. vote, called on Israel to reverse the decision as it summoned Israel's ambassador Daniel Taub to the Foreign Office.